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GARMENT SUPPORTER. No. 392,397.. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

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' l UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE,

EDWARD G. RARCCCK, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, "AssICNoR To CHARLES J. WHITE, OF sAM PLACE.

.GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,397, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed March 30, 1888. Serial No. 268,963.

Britain, in the county of Hartford and State.

of Connecticut, have invented certain new andusefulImprovementsinGarment-Supporters, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a front side view of a supporter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an edge View of the same, and Fig. 3 is a side or edge View of a similar supporter cut away on line :0 x of Fig. 1.

My invention is in that class of garment or fabric supporters which hold the fabric between spring-actuated jaws, the upper end of one memberof the device being generally so formed that a tape, elastic, or other .form of strap may be connected to it. My purpose is to improve such-supporters by providingjaws of peculiar construction and action that serve to hold the fabric firmly without the tendency to tear or stretch it that exists in some of the supporters in common use. I also provide a floating pivot or fulcrum, so that when necessary the jaws may be vwidely opened to receive thick fabrics; and I. further improve the general form and construction of the plates that form the two principal members of the complete device.

Referring to the drawings, the letter a denotes the larger member, formed, preferably, from sheet-metal stock, punched to form a blank with projecting portions at the sides and lower ends, these portions being bent at an angle to the main plate to form the pivotears I) b and the jaw c, as shown in the draw lugs.

The upper end of plate a is formed with an opening, a, to receive a suspending-strap.-

- The companion member (I is also formed as a plate with inturned flanges or ears e e to engage the companion ears b b. One end of plate dis bent inwardly at an acute angle relative to its main plate to form a fabrie-holding jaw, c, and the opposite end projects upward to provide an operating handle or thumbpiece, f. The pivot-ears on one member (preferably the outer one) are perforated to receive (No model.)

a rivet, h, while the ears on the companion member are provided with slots 1', that are coincident with said perforations, and through which the rivet h also passes. A spring, is, acting with a constant tendency to spread the upper ends of the companion plates, and thus hold the jaws in close engagement, is provided, the body of said spring being preferably coiled about rivet h, so that it (the spring) cannot become displaced. The slots 6 in one memberallow a limited longitudinal adjustment of the members relative to each other to separate or bring closer together the jaws c 0,

so that thick fabrics or several thicknesses of the same may be entered between the jaws.

I have materially improved the form and action of. the holding-jaws by bending them inward at an acute angle and causing the outer face of jaw c to abut the inturned end of the companion jaw c. \Vith this construction the end of jaw 0 projects past the end of jaw c and abuts the plate a. \Vhen a fabric is inserted and carried upward between said jaws, it is clasped in two places-that is. to say, between the end of each jaw and its engagingplate-and supports said fabric firmly, with less liability of tearing or stretching it than when grasped in one place only. The holding power or grip of the jaws is still further augmented by providing the pivot-slot in one member, as above described, for the obvious reason that any strain or pull of the fabric serves to draw down the upper jaw, c, and

thus grip firmer the fabric that lies between its outer face and the end of the companion jaw c.

My complete device may be cheaply produced, and is of such simple arrangement that it may be operated without special instructions or explanation.

I am aware that a prior patent showsa clasp formed of two connected plates provided at their free ends with inwardly-inclined jaws, whose ends are even and abut directly against each other. Such a clasp ishereby disclaimed.

I claim as my invention- 1. The garment-supporter herein described, formed of two connected plates, said plates being provided at their free ends with inwardly-inclined angular jaws, the end of the outer jaw extending over the outer face of the inncr jaw, which face abuts against said end of member being formed of a single piece of sheet the outer jaw, substantially as described, and metal with perforated end and integral jaw, for the purpose specified. and the other member being provided with ob- 2. Agarment-supporter consisting ofspri nglong slots, through which the pivotal pin passes, r5 5 actuated jaws, one member of said jaws being to allow the same to be adjusted relative to the provided with oblong slots, through which the companion member,substantiallyas described, pivotal pin passes, substantially as described, I and for the purpose specified.

and for the purpose specified. EDWARD G. BABCOCK.

3. In a garment-supporter, the combination Witnesses: 10 of the spring-actuated plates having at their CHAS. B. OLDERSHAW,

free ends acute-angular jaws, the principal L. D. CURTIS. 

